The Early Years

What an eventful day July 22, 1862, must have been in Harbour Grace when members of the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company came out in their blue uniforms and, headed by a band, formed the procession and marched carrying boats on their backs to Lady Lake, or Lady Pond as is it better known to the older folk, to hold the town's first Regatta.

A description reads: "it was a red Garibaldi shirt with green velvet facings pants with red stripes down the side and a cap like that worn by the solders of the Federal Army during the Civil War. Each officer had his own insignia, for instance the Treasurer wore the Keys, and Secretary, quills, etc. It was a picturesque and splendid uniform that was used for special occasions."

It must have been a colorful sight for those spectators who lined the route to the lake or followed the procession all the way to the waters of beautiful Lady Lake, where the grounds and numerous tents were decorated with gay buntings and flags that fluttered in the summer breeze.

The late Mrs. L.C. Davis wrote in 1968, "Horse drawn vehicles, long carts, baby carriages, shanks mare or any means of transportation available brought the townspeople to the lakeside in the early years. Harbour Grace was almost a 'deserted town'. The day at the races meant family gatherings in the country, where picnic spots were chosen, fires lit, baskets unpacked, and pots made ready for the 'boil-up' which was an inevitable part of the days outing.

While the woman folk busied themselves in preparing for the meal, which was to follow, men and children gathered at the shore to watch the progress of the boats that covered the course and to lay bets on the favorites of the day.

Fine old bands were there to play familiar tunes and with the firing of the gun to break forth into that long-time favorite "The Banks of Newfoundland" as the winning crew pulled into shore. Such men as Will Kennedy, Lote Whitemen, Bob Brazil, and Bill Freeman provided the old music.

There were tents where refreshments were bought and children spent their pennies for the goodies of the day.

Further along the way stood the house of well-known Johnny Walker and his good wife. His house was situated on the property now owned by the Martin family, where meals were served and (it has been said) refreshments of a liquid and slightly more potent nature were dispensed. For those whose thirst needed quenching after the heat and exertions of the day, and, if foot steps sometimes were uncertain after a journey up the hill, one could complain of the rocky surface after all, it was the day of the races and must be fittingly celebrated".

Mr. H.F. Shortis, a member of the Regatta Committee, wrote in 1923, "It was a pleasure to see the interest that was taken by the veterans of these days in the respective boats. William Tapp, Michael Hartery, George Barnes, Stephan Breaker (blacksmith) would spend days in overhauling, jointing, and blackleading the boats so that they would be in their peak condition. Very often the paint would get thick, so all the hands had to go to Mrs. Farrell's to procure sufficient spirits to thin it.

It was a pretty sight to view the lakeside in those days when from 25 to 30 tents were erected, and all kinds of edibles and especially drinkables were to be poured at cheap rates. Generally, two kinds of music were present. Mrs. Ebenezer Parsons generally supervised the committee tent, and all persons were welcomed provided they paid for what they called for. The merchants, such as Ridley, Munn, Donnelly, Rutherford, Paterson, Ross, Devereaux, Longwill & Taylor, Jarvis, Neyle, and Gordon Godden etc., as well as the leading citizens, Robert Walsh, Thomas Higgans, H.T. Moore, W.H. Thompson, Bulger J.C. Toussaint, Councilor Hayward (afterwards Judge), in fact all the citizens, as well as the visitors from far and near, took an active part in the great day and, for that day at least all hands, lay and cleric, met on an equality, and became one happy family. If a race was disputed, a challenge would be immediately issued by the supposed loser, who would back his words, by $10 or $20 an oar. An important coloring to the picture was a great number of volumes of smoke issuing from the camps in all directions. Also, the appetizing odour from the great pots and kettles which were hung over the fire, turnip and carrot, parsnip etc. all from their own gardens and farms; and then what a sweet morsel was the crubeens (pickled pigs feet), well washed down,(not by ginger pop); and how hospitable were the good ladies, especially in their invitation to visitors and passersby, to come over and take pot luck.

The tradition of the 'Day at the Races' remains and with continued civic pride, the historic values of the Harbour Grace Regatta will be preserved for the future generations.

Whaleboats, Gigs, Dories and Racing Shells

In the first years of the Regatta, the races were rowed in whaleboats or "gashers" owned by several of the citizens, the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company, Societies and Regatta Committee. The boats taking part in the first Regatta of 1862 were the whaleboats named Medlock, Weasel, Hawk, Test and a gig named Nelly.

The gig "Nelly" was owned by Mr. George Makinson. He was the manager of the Newfoundland Steam Packet Company in Harbour Grace, which provided a steamer service every week day from Harbour Grace, Carbonear and Brigus to Portugal Cove, returning to Harbour Grace each evening. The name gig is derived from its build (a ship's four-oared gig). The "Test" was owned by the late R.W. Squarey. She later became the property of the late W.F. Tapp. The "Medlock" was owned by the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company. Her name came from the Medlock fire engine which was used in the early 1860's and which was looked upon at the time as the last word in fire fighting equipment. It is said the gig out-classed the other boats on the water. This is due to the fact that the gig was lighter than the whaleboats.

The Test had three first place finishes, one second place and one third place. The Weasel had one first place finish, three third place finishes and one fourth place finish. The Hawk had one first place finish and three second-place finishes. The "Medlock" placed fourth in her one and only race and the Nelly placed first in her only race.

In 1863, three race gigs - the Albert, Weasel and Minnie Clyde - were purchased by the Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Company. In the following years, these boats, built by Mr. D. Loveys, produced some very close races. It is said that the Weasel was the favorite boat and she won the majority of her races during her career. It is also said that the Albert won a good many races, especially if she was stroked by Bill Hatcher who was a watchmen at the Ridleys premises who was described as one of the finest oarsmen in the country. The Minnie Clyde won very few races. In fact, she may have come first only once in her career, and that was with Bill Hatcher on the stroke oar. Oarsmen and coxswains at the time said she was too wide and flat.

The Regatta of 1886 featured the whaleboats Medlock, Primrose, Myrtle, Home Ruler, Vivian, Hettie and two scull boats named the Mary and the Lizzie S. The Primerose had the best time of the day, 17:15 in a challenge between the fire brigades of Harbour Grace and Carbonear. This race was won by the Carbonear firemen.

In the Regatta held on Thursday, August 19, 1897, six dories were used instead of the usual whaleboats. This was due, no doubt, to the whaleboats being in poor condition. The need of new whaleboats was stressed at this Regatta and the opinion expressed was that "no properly arranged programme can be carried out with the dories as the only boats."

Only two whaleboats contested the Regatta held on July 26, 1898 the Edith and the Myrtle. The Hettie was to be rowed, but owing to a ruling by the committee for some reason, she was withdrawn. The best time of the day was made by a crew from Bryants Cove in the Fishermen's Race, 10 minutes 45 seconds. In the dory races which were also held, the R. Grant won the three regular races against Merrimac and Grab-all and the Myrtle. The Myrtle was owned by a Mr.Taylor (formerly owned by Thomas Wollery) and the Hettie owned by Mr. John Tapp, a member of the Regatta Committee.

In 1910, to celebrate the Guy Ter-Centenary Celebrations, six whale boats were featured in most of the races. They were the Maggie, Edith, Myrtle, C.D.L.A., Mary and Volunteer.

In the Regatta of Wednesday, August 6th 1919, four boats entered, the Bessie, Edith, Prince Albert and Maggie. Of the eight races, the Bessie won seven first places and the Maggie won one. The Prince Albert, Bessie, Maggie, and Winnie were used in the 1920 Regatta. The Winnie replaced Edith. The Bessie had the quickest time of the day, 13 minutes 14 seconds in the All Comers Race.

In the fall of 1948, the services of Mr. Arthur Earle of Carbonear were procured to build three new boats. The boats used at the Regattas in the previous years were in poor condition and for a number of years the committee was building up a fund to produce new ones.

The boats built by Mr. Earle were whaleboat style, clinker-built of cedar with oak timbers and fastened with brass screws and copper nails. They were of much lighter construction than the former ones in use. They were 28'8" overall in length and 5'7" greatest width. They were named the Minnie Clyde, Firefly and Weasel, names that were known at Regattas many years before. The name Weasel dates back to the first Harbour Grace Regatta and the Minnie Clyde to 1863. The boats were used for the first time in the 1949 Regatta and replaced the Bessie, Winnie, and Maggie, which were built by a Mr. James Warren. The Bessie and Winnie were sold to interested parties at Argentia, while the Maggie was retained as a practice boat. The first local coxswains of the new boats used in 1949 were Basil Martin, W.H. Hunt and Eugene Pike. In 1955 a fourth boat was provided by Mr. Mark Gosse named the Wasp.

The traditional whaleboats were rowed for the last time on Lady Lake at the 1970 Regatta. The last four-oared champions were Taylors Wholesale of Harbour Grace. The well practiced, superbly conditioned and smooth-rowing Taylors crew of Dave Pike, stroke, Bud Chafe, Alex Parsons, Dave Downing and cox Eugene Pike dethroned the perennial winners, the Williams brothers, in the championship race in a time of 10:29. The Weasel, Firefly and Minnie Clyde which were 22 years old, were later sold to the Regatta committee of Labrador City and renamed Miss Ashuanipi, Lady Granville and Miss Union Centre. The boats were offically christened and took their first spin on Dudley Lake in July 1973.

In 1971, the Regatta Committee purchased three six-oared racing shells from the St.John's Regatta committee, and were named the Firefly, Weasel and Minnie Clyde. The switch to shells certainly didn't affect the defending champs, Taylors Wholesale. They became the first six-oared champions by covering the mile and one-fifth course in the fastest time of the day, 9:08. The Taylor crew were Dave Pike, stroke, Derek Pike, Bud Chafe, Terry Pike, Lorne Pike, Dave Downing, and coxswain Eugene Pike.

In 1973, a fourth shell was purchased from the Power Brothers in Placentia, and named the Wasp. These racing shells bear the colours red and white (Firefly), green and white (Weasel), blue and white (Wasp), yellow and white (Minnie Clyde). These four shells were believed to be over 50 years old and should have been replaced. The Minnie Clyde in the worst condition of the shells used for the past fifteen years, was dismantled and scrapped to provide a pattern for the new shells.

In 1987, at the 125th Regatta, a chairman at the time, the late Bill Martin said, "When we began talking about four new racing shells back in February it looked like an impossible dream to come up with $36,000 to purchase them but the financial support and backing of a great group of people, an impossible dream has materialized."

Fred Jackson of Jackson's Boat Supplies, Whiteway, Trinity Bay worked on the fourth and final racing shell which he built for the 125th Regatta. The Harbour Grace Regatta Committee decided to have Jackson build their new racing shells after they saw a fiberglass shell. The construction of the new shells got underway in January, 1987 with one and sometimes two men working on them. The shells made were 49' long with a 3.5' beam. Wood was used as the material for those boats instead of fiberglass because a wooden craft is easier to handle on a rough lake.

From the past few decades even though the late 1800's, some of the boat names remained the same. However, some of the most famous names stuck to the boats for a period of time. If you were a member of a rowing team back then you would most likely remember Nelly, Firefly, Minnie Weasel, Medlock, and many more as the most memorable boats in your minds. Nevertheless, the Miss Newfoundland and Labrador, Miss Harbour Grace, Miss Lady Lake, and Peter Easton are the names of the boats to this date and for the past 20 years.

The names of these boats were chosen based on who donated money for the purchase of each. Each new boat cost nearly $ 10,000. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's donation meant a boat named Miss Newfoundland and Labrador, The Town of Harbour Grace's donation resulted in a boat named Miss Harbour Grace, the Regatta committee had The Miss Lady Lake, and last but not least the Historical Society had one named Peter Easton. A lot of people think that using the donators name to decide on the boats name is humorous, nevertheless, the names stuck for nearly two decades now, and hopefully for many years to come.